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A late Review of 2009

Friday, January 8th, 2010

Oxford Botanical Garden - 23rd December

Before I start documenting my hopes for 2010 it seems important to write down what I achieved in 2009:

  • I learnt a HUGE amount about how I want to parent*, and both W and I worked hard to bring as much balance as we could to our lives
  • I gave up caffeine and I have to say I feel a lot better for it (though I wouldn’t push it onto anyone else, given that basically what I was giving up was caffeinated fizzy drinks, since I already don’t drink tea or coffee.) Basically though, it’s made it much easier to function on less sleep, as counter-intuitive as that might sound
  • I also swapped out pretty much all of my toiletries for more natural alternatives. I carried on with the bicarb and cider vinegar hair care, and made myself some face oil from Make Your Place (a SUPERB book), which has replaced my moisturizer, and which is working brilliantly
  • I managed to keep both businesses going (just about) despite finding working from home with a baby really hard. Hopefully – given that we have a few weeks for respite** from the house stuff – I should be able to get some more dyeing done and get more stock into the shop very soon (there is already some stock waiting in the wings that needs adding.)
  • I had my first pattern published which was exciting
  • I managed to sneak ‘properly getting to grips with crochet’*** in at the eleventh hour (or rather, mid-december), which has opened up another avenue of fibre related fun
  • I tried to make more food from scratch, and have cut back our processed food a great deal. That’s an on going thing to be honest, but having made bagels and barley sugars**** (amongst others) this year I’m exciting to continue making not buying wherever I can

Of course (just in case you’re thinking – yeah we get it Goody-Two-Shoes!)  it was also a year of worrying fevers, and sudden sleepless nights when we least expected it. And as I’ve mentioned here before, my grandmother died in October, and though she got the life and death she wanted, she’s still very much missed. I was rubbish at keeping in touch with people (something I’m planning to work on this year), and bit off more than I could chew a few times. Also househunting is horrible.

But all in all a very exciting year.

I’ll be back on Monday with my hopes for 2010.

*Incase you’re wondering I’ll pin my colours to the mast, for what they’re worth – attachment parenting, baby wearing, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, cloth nappies, baby led weaning, unconditional. I’m also getting really interested in Waldorf family life. (I didn’t know I would feel like this when I was pregnant. But I feel it now that FB is here.)

**Or at least I REALLY REALLY hope we’re getting a few weeks respite. Let’s just say that I try to have hope but we are only part of the way through the process. Let’s see what the next few weeks bring.

*** which deserves it’s own post. *adds to the list*

**** W points out they aren’t really be barley sugars since they don’t have barley in them. FACT.

Images From Christmas: Part 4 (last part I think)

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Knitting Clutch - *my* best present

W bought me a Persnickity Knits Gigi Clutch for Christmas this year. Actually he bought it in the summer but I had to wait, and I’m ok with that. :)

Knitting Clutch - *my* best present

It’s very pretty, and it has lots of pockets, which always makes me happy.

It’s going to be wonderful for knitting on the go – both out and about and around the house.

Images from Christmas: Part 3

Friday, January 1st, 2010

Happy New Year!

Christmas PJs 2009

This is the best photo I got of FB’s Christmas pjs. You’ll just have to take my work for it that there is a little square of the trouser fabric appliqued to the top. :)

I didn’t realise it when I bought the fabric in the summer, but the fact it has squirrels on it is so perfect for him right now, since there have been lots of squirrels raiding the bird feeders in our garden, which have given us no end of entertainment in the last couple of weeks.

Images From Christmas: Part 2

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Nativity Set - best present

My uncle and aunt surprised us on Boxing Day with an amazing nativity from Slovakia.

Up to now we haven’t had a nativity, and I really really love the style of it.

Nativity Set - best present

Currently the three wise men are slowly making their way across the side board.

On the 6th we’re planning to Wasail our allotment (with it’s tiny orchard) and the add the three wise men to the nativity for the night.

A fitting end to Christmas for this year.

Nativity Set - best present

(This is my favourite figure. I love her spotted headscarf and bread. <3)

Images from Christmas: Part 1

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Christmas 2009

We opted to have the small tree again this year – FB is very curious, and into everything and I felt it was better for all of us to keep the living room as toddler friendly as possible.

I love having the mixture of decorations from both my childhood and W’s:

  • - the candle figures on the left of the tree are ones that I’ve grown up with
  • - the rabbit was on granny’s tree and was my uncles when he was little
  • - the santa next to the rabbit was occasionally on the top of the tree when I was small
  • - the smaller santa is from W’s mum
  • - the winter figures on the right of the tree W grew up with

The tree itself is one that my mum got for me when I was 20 and couldn’t get time off from my retail job to come home for christmas. Oooh and the angel at the top is also a family decoration from W’s side.

A lovely mixture.

(And the hippo card on the far right was designed and illustrated by W’s dad. We have a collection of them. :)

More tomorrow…